Everything you need to know about Threads—Instagram’s Twitter challenger—and how long it took other social media platforms to reach just one million users.
Created by the team behind Meta’s Instagram, the launch of Threads had been eagerly anticipated since rumors surfaced earlier this year about Instagram’s intention to introduce a Twitter alternative.
Yet, the smoothness of this launch cannot be denied, with a signup process that seamlessly transfers key Instagram information, including followers, bios, and profile pictures, in a matter of seconds.
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What is Threads?
So, what exactly is it?
It can be best described as a Twitter alternative developed by the same people who brought us Instagram, a leading photo-based platform that remains popular even a decade after its initial release.
Meta positions Threads as an app “for sharing updates and joining public conversations.”
How do you sign up?
Signing up for Threads is impressively easy, recognizing people’s aversion to the often cumbersome signup requirements.
Simply download the app and log in using your Instagram account.
Once signed up, you have the option to import your Instagram connections, profile picture, and bio settings. It’s as straightforward as that!
But is Threads just like Twitter?
It’s similar, but not quite the same.
While the overall setup aligns with the classic Twitter experience, the app showcases threads shared by people you follow, along with recommended content from new creators you may not have discovered yet.
How does it work?
So, how does Threads work? Posts can be up to 500 characters long and can include pictures, links, and video clips under five minutes.
You can also share a Threads post to your Instagram Stories or other social media platforms using a copy-and-paste link.
It’s worth noting that Instagram’s Community Guidelines apply to the Threads experience.
Additionally, deleting your Threads profile will result in the deletion of your Instagram profile.
How successful was the launch?
The launch of Threads has been quite successful.
Within the first two hours, two million signups were reported, which impressively escalated to five million within four hours, and an astounding 10 million within seven hours.
By the following morning, Threads had accumulated a staggering 30 million signups.
In a seemingly rare social media appearance, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg celebrated the launch with a Spidey meme, possibly referencing Elon Musk.
How long it took for social media platforms to reach 1M users
To put Threads’ growth into perspective, let’s compare it to other social media platforms and their journey to one million users:
Netflix
Netflix took 3.5 years to reach the one million user milestone as a movie streaming giant.
Twitter, Threads’ direct rival, took nearly two years from its launch in July 2006 to achieve one million users in 2008.
However, it’s important to consider the different digital landscape at the time, with limited computer and internet accessibility.
Facebook, the forefather of Threads, reached one million users just 10 months after its inception by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 while he was a student at Harvard University.
Instagram, before becoming part of Zuckerberg’s Meta empire, attained one million downloads in a mere two-and-a-half months after its October 2010 launch.
It was subsequently acquired by Facebook for $1 billion in 2012.
TikTok
TikTok, possibly the most successful social media platform in recent years, had already surpassed one million users before even adopting its current name.
Created as Douyin in September 2016, it garnered over 100 million users in just over 200 days.
After rebranding as TikTok for the international market in September 2017 and merging with Musical.ly two months later, the platform firmly established itself in our lives.
The New Platform
Threads’ growth stands out, particularly when compared to its rivals.
While each platform has its unique journey, Threads has quickly gained significant traction in the social media landscape.
With its accessible signup process, engaging features, and the backing of Meta’s Instagram team, Threads seems poised for further growth and success.
Threads presents an exciting alternative to Twitter, with an easy-to-use interface, seamless integration with Instagram, and an impressive launch that attracted millions of users within hours.
As the platform continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it transforms the social media landscape and captures users’ attention in new and exciting ways.
Banner photo via Threads @muanchiou.
